Art journaling this week has led me down the rabbit hole. Before I even knew it I created an Alice in Wonderland page. (I know this picture is not great. I tried to scan it in but the raven’s googly eye is messing up the focus.)

I printed a bird silhouette on an old piece of paper and added the playing cards and quotes to round out the theme.

What is the theme? I think it’s Nonsense. Why is a raven like a writing desk? There’s really no right answer. Only what you would want it to be. The same goes for creating art journal pages. For me, there is no right answer. It doesn’t have to make sense. I love the creative process. I don’t know how it will look when I’m finished, so it seems like nonsense. But, there is freedom in creating, and it all comes together in the end.

Now it’s time to go read Alice In Wonderland.

Oh, I used some scrapbook papers today to create this 12 x 12 card design. It needs words. What quote should I use? One word for every card… hummmm. The possibilities are endless…

My cousin sent this picture to me the other day. What’s great is that she knows I’m a book person. But this quote makes me sad. There will be books I will never get to read. But, what makes me happy is knowing that there will always be something to read and book people to talk to after I’m done reading. Book people are the best people, my friends, my lifesavers.

7 Reasons Why Bookworms Are the Coolest People

1. Bookworms always have a book with them. They read every chance they get. “Never trust a person who doesn’t bring a book.” Lemony Snicket

2. Bookworms collect books. They take ‘shelfies’ of their libraries. They own several copies of the same book. I have 3 different copies of Jane Eyre.

3. Bookworms will give you their honest opinion, whether it’s reviewing a book, comparing a book and screenplay, or debating cover art. The truth speaks volumes.

4. Bookworms are smart and well-read. They understand the difference between science and science-fiction. They can sink their teeth into Sookie, and dabble in Dickens. They can handle history, gritty crime, fantasy, and romance. And they have no qualms about quitting a book after 50 pages if they don’t like it. It’s okay to move on and read something else.

5. Bookworms are in the know about all things books, and they share this knowledge. When the next book is out in a series, and what books to borrow, buy, or avoid.

7. Bookworms love bookstores and libraries. They haunt them and linger among the shelves. They support and volunteer at libraries and treasure their library card as if it was pure gold.

I’m a bookworm. I’ll shout it out, but not when I’m in the library or bookstore. I was thinking about my to-read list. It’s long and I should seriously delete some titles I know I won’t ever find time to read. I have every intention of finishing Gone With the Wind, Little Women, and Great Expectations. I will also make time for being the best bookworm I can be.

I’ve been busy. Changing jobs. Reading books. Writing words. Baking sweet treats. Dialoguing with myself. (I said to myself, self…it’s time to ask the tough questions.) Asking the tough questions. Do you really want to be here writing posts on your website?” Yes. But managing a website is hard. I have to come up with good […]

It’s almost time to give some books away!!! My bookshelves are overflowing and I’m feeling generous. I’m giving away an autographed hardcover copy of: Heading Out to Wonderful by Robert Goolrick AND A hardcover copy of: The Death of Bees by Lisa O’Donnell. Both of these books are brand new and never read. If […]

The Egg and I by Betty MacDonald Not only is Betty smart, hardworking, and hilarious, she’s also an amazing writer. You can tell she loves the written word as much as trees love sun and rain. She gets married to Bob and lovingly follows him on his quest. He wants to be a chicken farmer. That […]

This is a joint AUTHOR & BLOGGER GIVEAWAY EVENT! Bloggers & Authors have joined together and each chipped in a little money towards a Kindle Fire HD 7″. Kindle Fire HD 7″ Giveaway The winner will have the option of receiving a 7″ Kindle Fire HD (US Only) Or $199 Amazon.com Gift Card (International) […]

I love summertime. I love it more when we decide to go somewhere faraway. I love the beach too, and persuaded the family to go to Seaside, Oregon instead of Disneyland. My sister and her family were also traveling through the state and we got to hang out together. I took lots of pictures but […]

The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear This was the best Maisie Dobbs book so far. I think Maisie has officially grown up. She’s a single woman in 1930′s London with a business, apartment, and car of her own. She’s worked very hard for her life too. It was a rare thing back […]

In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters My rating: 5 of 5 stars Wow! While it’s fresh in my mind I’ll write out a quick review. I don’t want to get into a detailed dust jacket synopsis and I don’t want to give anything away, but here are a few reasons why this book […]

These are my most recent art journal pages. I’m trying to do a page every day. Thanks to the inspiration I see on Pinterest there is always a picture, quote, or technique that I can use or try. I wish I could just create fun and crafty art journal pages all day long. Now on […]

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce My rating: 5 of 5 stars I devoured the words, climbed inside the scenes, and walked with Harold Fry every step of the way. This book has not made me tired though. It’s made me more alive. More able to see everything around me and appreciate […]

When I’m not reading or writing or cleaning, I’m crafting. Saturday mornings are the best time to craft with kiddies. Juliet and I put together these book paper flowers in under 20 minutes. I’m hoping to do 1 craft a month, and my Stuff To Make board on Pinterest is full of little project that […]

FLOURISH I’m quite proud of my new art journal. It’s in the beginning stages but I love how my word turned out. I decided to make my own book and used Bo Bunny Misc Me paper and dividers and picture sleeves. I can add more later if I want. I was supposed to do a […]

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle by The Countess of Carnarvon My rating: 5 of 5 stars I read this book for a more in-depth look at British aristocracy and how they really lived.There’s a lot more interesting ‘TRUE LIFE’ information than the over-dramatized television show. (I have […]

Speaking from Among the Bones by Alan Bradley My rating: 5 of 5 stars Flavia de Luce is such a great character. She’s full of surprises. The fifth book in the series was, I’ll admit, kind of confusing at times but still entertaining. It’s definitely a cozy mystery that kept me guessing to the end. […]

I’ve been thinking about what I want to accomplish in 2013. So far this is what I’ve come up with for January. Find something that makes you happy. Some people exercise, some people cook, or sew. The act of writing makes me happy. I actually get paid to do too, which is nice. It’s fun […]

Seriously, I love my bookclub. I’ve been going for 6 years now. The women I get to hang out with are the best. They’re so down-to-earth, groovy, sarcastic, and oozing with spiritual conviction. I’m so blessed. Here’s a picture of us last May… We just got done reading Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander, and […]

This is self-editing Saturday, A.K.A. How to Drive Myself Insane Day. I printed out all of my nanowrimo writings. It’s over 50 pages. I’ve begun the editing process and it’s going to kill me. I have a novel here somewhere. I know it. I just need to fine tune it. I thought editing would be […]

This is my first post of 2013. My goal for the year is to create at least 52 posts. That’s 1 post a week. It’s doable. I’m also going to participate in Ali Edwards One Little Word class. It lasts all year and I think it will really help me to keep writing. My fingers […]

There’s only 1 day left and I didn’t complete the challenge. I could blame that national turkey-infested holiday we just had but it will do no good. The bottom line is that writing is not easy. Here are a few other things I learned: 1. Researching is a big part of writing. But I can’t […]

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Virginia Bell

Virginia BellCreate Your Badge
I have a soft spot in my heart for dogs. If brownies or chocolate chip cookies are in my house I will eat them for breakfast. You can find me lounging on the couch reading. Or I'm high on crafting or art journaling. Or I'm writing. I have a WIP and I'm determined to bring it to life as a readable manuscript. I love words, babies, sunshine, and bursts of creativity. I love being a mother to my 2 girls, and a wife to my forever hubby.